Frequency Of Intimate Partner Violence Research Articles

The association between emotional and physical intimate partner violence and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in a community-based U.S. Cohort

ObjectiveTo estimate risk of being unvaccinated against COVID-19 by experience of intimate partner violence (IPV). MethodsAmong 3,343 partnered individuals in a community-based U.S. cohort, we quantified emotional and physical IPV experienced between March and December 2020 and estimated risk of being unvaccinated against COVID-19 through June 2021 by experience of IPV. Experience of recent IPV was defined as endorsement of more frequent or severe IPV since the start of the pandemic or report of any past-month IPV in at least one of four follow-up surveys conducted by the end of December 2020. We created a three-level composite variable – no experience of IPV, experience of emotional but not physical IPV, and experience of physical IPV. ResultsCisgender women, non-binary, or transgender individuals who reported experiencing emotional, but not physical, IPV and those who reported experiencing physical IPV were both at significantly higher risk of being unvaccinated for COVID-19 compared to those who reported experiencing no IPV (ARRemotional violence: 1.28 [95 % CI: 1.09 – 1.51]; ARRphysical violence: 1.70 [95 % CI: 1.41 – 2.05]). Cisgender men who reported experiencing physical IPV were also at significantly higher risk of being unvaccinated for COVID-19 (ARRphysical violence: 1.52 [95 % CI: 1.15 – 2.02]). ConclusionsIPV may increase the risk of low vaccine uptake. Results highlight the need to incorporate IPV prevention and support into public health responses, with targeted resources and consideration for reducing barriers to public health interventions among those impacted.

How to Evaluate Reports of Intimate Partner Violence? Examining Interpartner Agreement in a Forensic Sample of Different-Sex Couples Where Men are Accused of Intimate Partner Violence.

Research about interpartner agreement on intimate partner violence (IPV) is mainly based on community and clinical samples, with forensic or court-related samples being overlooked. This study assesses interpartner agreement on IPV reports based on the Revised Conflict Tactic Scales, aiming to explore if the proxy method would be reliable in a court-related setting. The study sample comprised 62 different-sex couples identified in the Portuguese judicial system due to an IPV-related crime perpetrated by men. Agreement was assessed based on different indexes: percent agreement and Gwet's AC1 for occurrence, and Tau-b and intraclass correlations for frequency. Men's and women's perpetration were considered. Results showed that interpartner agreement on IPV occurrence (ranging from poor-to-very good) tended to be higher and more consistent among indexes than agreement on IPV frequency (ranging from non-existent to strong). This study highlights the need to collect both partners' reports in court-related settings.

The impact of childhood adversity on female‐perpetrated intimate partner violence in young adulthood

AbstractPurposeA common conception of intimate partner violence (IPV) is that women rarely use violence against romantic partners, and when they do, this is usually in self‐defence. However, evidence demonstrates that women perpetrate IPV at least as frequently as men, particularly in young adult populations. Despite this, there is still a significant lack of research focusing on women's IPV perpetration, particularly in determining risk markers. The unique relationship between adversity in childhood and IPV perpetration has been recognized in males and it is thought that this relationship may be even more marked in females. The present study aimed to investigate this relationship to see whether experiencing increasing numbers of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) would be associated with higher incidence of female‐perpetrated IPV.MethodsExposure to ACEs and frequency of IPV perpetration was measured through an online survey of young adult females from the general population.ResultsRegression analysis revealed that ACEs did significantly predict the frequency of IPV perpetrated by females. The results showed that the more adversity a female has experienced in childhood, the greater their risk of IPV perpetration in young adulthood.ConclusionsIt is suggested that this relationship potentially exists because adversity in childhood impacts the individual's attachments and processing of social environments, thus resulting in dysfunctional, violent responses to relationship dilemmas throughout life. These results stress the importance of tailoring treatment strategies for female perpetrators to address potential childhood adversity in which their violence may be rooted.

Vulnerability in women primary caregivers of children in palliative care due to intimate partner violence in a pediatric hospital in Mexico.

Women are the primary caregivers of children in palliative care. Research has shown that the presence of intimate partner violence at home exacerbates the vulnerability of the caregiver. Current statistics indicate a high prevalence of violence in Mexico present in the intersectionality between intimate partner violence and the role of the primary caregiver. This study aimed to describe the frequency of intimate partner violence among primary palliative caregivers at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. We conducted a cross-sectional and prospective study with convenience sampling; no sample calculation was performed. All female primary caregivers of children in the palliative care unit were invited to participate. The Scale of Violence and Index of Severity of Violence was used as the measuring instrument. One hundred women participated in the study by submitting their survey in a designated mailbox. No sociodemographic data or patient diagnoses were collected. The frequency of intimate partner violence was 28%, of which 16% were considered severe cases. Women reported psychological violence (36%), sexual violence (23%), and physical violence (22%). Almost one-third of female primary caregivers of pediatric patients at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez have been victims of some form of violence by current partners. This study highlights a previously unreported problem and opens the door for studies to correlate intimate partner violence among primary caregivers and the quality of life of children in palliative care.

Türkiye'nin Bir İlinde Gebelikte Eşler Arası Şiddetin Yaygınlığı, Şiddetteki Değişiklikler ve Anne Ruh Sağlığına Etkileri

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and the effect of violence on maternal mental health. 
 Materials and Methods: The hospitals in Adana province center was selected by simple randomization method. Frequency tables, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used as statistical analysis.
 Results: Prevalence of IPV was found as 24.1% before pregnancy and 17.5% during pregnancy. The rate of emotional, physical and sexual IPV exposure during pregnancy was found as 16,7%, 2,8% and 3,3%, respectively. It was found that regarding 69% of those exposed to violence in any period of their life, the rate of overall violence either decreased or completely ceased during pregnancy. Women, who experienced IPV during pregnancy were 4.60 times more likely to have depression in pregnancy. 
 Conclusion: It has been determined that the rate of IPV exposure decreases with pregnancy however, IPV during pregnancy causes mental health problems in women.

Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence in Childhood and Partner Violence Perpetration in Adulthood: The Mediating Role of Aggression

ABSTRACT Although different studies have found that exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) in childhood is linked to IPV perpetration in adulthood, others have revealed null effects. Previous research has also found that some factors might mediate the relationship between exposure to IPV in childhood and later IPV perpetration. As far as we know, no studies examined the role of aggression in this relationship. This study aimed to analyze the link between exposure to IPV in childhood and IPV perpetration in adulthood and verify whether this relationship was mediated by aggression and its components (verbal and physical aggression, anger, and hostility). Two hundred and forty five men convicted of domestic violence, from prison and community, were recruited. Correlation analysis revealed a positive link between exposure to IPV in childhood, aggression traits, and specifically physical aggression, and IPV frequency in adulthood. Overall aggression traits and physical aggression traits were statistically significant mediator variables explaining almost 15% of the overall effect of exposure to IPV in childhood on overall IPV frequency in adulthood. These findings unravel the role of aggression in the perpetration of physical and total IPV, claiming our attention to the need to include strategies to increase emotion regulation and problem-solving strategies in intervention programs.

Feasibility and Effectiveness of an Intervention to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence and Psychological Distress Among Women in Nepal: Protocol for the Domestic Violence Intervention (DeVI) Cluster-Randomized Trial.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects people in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Nepal. Women experiencing IPV are at higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The shortage of trained frontline health care providers, coupled with stigma related to IPV and mental health disorders, fuels low service uptake among women experiencing IPV. The Domestic Violence Intervention (DeVI) combines the Problem Management Plus counseling program developed by the World Health Organization with a violence prevention component. This study aims to implement and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of DeVI in addressing psychological distress and enabling the secondary prevention of violence for women experiencing IPV. A parallel cluster-randomized trial will be conducted across 8 districts in Madhesh Province in Nepal, involving 24 health care facilities. The study will include women aged 18-49 years who are either nonpregnant or in their first trimester, have experienced IPV within the past 12 months, have a 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) score of 3 or more (indicating current mental health issues), and have lived with their husbands or in-laws for at least 6 months. A total sample size of 912 was estimated at 80% power and α<.05 statistical significance level to detect a 15% absolute risk reduction in the IPV frequency and a 50% reduction in the GHQ-12 score in the intervention arm. The health care facilities will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control arm in a 1:1 ratio. Women visiting the health care facilities in the intervention and control arms will be recruited into the respective arms. In total, 38 participants from each health care facility will be included in the trial to meet the desired sample size. Eligible participants allocated to either arm will be assessed at baseline and follow-up visits after 6, 17, and 52 weeks after baseline. This study received funding in 2019. As of December 29, 2022, over 50% of eligible women had been recruited from both intervention and control sites. In total, 269 eligible women have been enrolled in the intervention arm and 309 eligible women in the control arm. The trial is currently in the recruitment phase. Data collection is expected to be completed by December 2023, after which data analysis will begin. If the intervention proves effective, it will provide evidence of how nonspecialist mental health care providers can address the harmful effects of IPV in resource-constrained settings with a high burden of IPV, such as Nepal. The study findings could also contribute evidence for integrating similar services into routine health programs in LMICs to prevent IPV and manage mental health problems among women experiencing IPV. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05426863; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05426863. DERR1-10.2196/45917.

Intimate Partner Violence in Khaliji Women: A Review of the Frequency and Related Factors.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), locally known as Khaliji, is a group of six Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern in the aforementioned region, but research that synthesises this trend has remained scarce. The present narrative review examines existing research on the prevalence and frequency of IPV among Khaliji women who inhabit the GCC nations. This review synthesised studies on physical and sexual violence, emotional abuse, and controlling behaviours perpetrated by an intimate partner. The prevalence rates of IPV among Khaliji women were observed to be high: women reported facing different types of abuse from their partners, namely physical (7-71%), sexual (3.7-81%), financial (21.3-26%), and psychological (7.5-89%), which is a culmination of controlling behaviour (36.8%), emotional violence (22-69%), and social violence (34%). Existing studies in the GCC region suggest that the most endorsed IPV was psychological abuse (89%), followed by sexual violence (81%). Qualitative analysis of the content of associated factors resulted in four significant descriptors, such as victim demographics, sociocultural factors, socioeconomic factors, and perpetrator-related issues. Research on IPV is still in its nascent stages, with very few studies emanating from the GCC region. The way forward will require developing culturally appropriate interventions that address the unique risk factors for IPV among the Khaliji population, strengthening institutional responses, and increasing awareness and social support for victims of IPV.

Intimate partner violence disclosure in the workplace: examining frequency, workplace occurrences, and pay level

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure at work is important, given that disclosure may reduce safety-related risks and allow for better management of workplace disruptions. In line with prior literature, we suggest that when there is more workplace occurrence of IPV and higher frequency of IPV, employees are more likely to disclose to their coworkers. We also theorize that the disclosure decision will depend on employees’ pay. While we expect employees with lower pay levels to be more likely to disclose in either case of increasing IPV workplace occurrences or IPV frequency, we hypothesize that highly paid employees will be especially reluctant to disclose due to the pressures associated with the ideal worker prototype and anticipatory stigma. We test our predictions using survey data from 350 workers across four organizations reporting IPV experiences. We predict and find support that highly paid workers are more likely to disclose when IPV is both high in frequency and occurring at work. Our research points to the importance of organizational hierarchies and individual pay in understanding workplace IPV disclosure decisions.

Gender-Based Violence Against Pregnant Women and Its Relationship with Maternal Depression in Patients Attended at a Public Hospital in Chincha, Peru: A Cross-Sectional Study

At least one-third of women worldwide has suffered intimate partner violence (IPV) during their lifetime. During pregnancy, IPV has serious consequences on the physical and mental health of women and children. Therefore, this study aims to describe domestic violence and maternal depression in Peruvian patients treated in a public hospital. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on pregnant women between 18 and 40 years of age who attended their prenatal checkups at the San José de Chincha National Hospital located in the Ica region in southern Peru. A total of 316 pregnant women were interviewed, of which 48.4% were between 18 and 25 years of age and 28.2% belonged to a rural area. The frequency of psychological violence and physical aggression was 19.6% (n = 62) and 7% (n = 22), respectively. Furthermore, 22.1% (n = 70) of the participants were at risk of feminicide. Maternal depression was present in 29.1% (n = 92) of the participants and 16.8% (n = 53) had suicidal thoughts. Multivariate analysis showed several risk factors: unwanted pregnancy (adjusted prevalence of the ratio [aPR]: 1.44, confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.01–2.07), psychological violence (aPR: 1.79, CI 95%: 1.23–2.60), mild risk of feminicide (aPR: 1.97, CI 95%: 1.31–2.961), and a moderate risk of feminicide (aPR: 1.81, CI 95%: 1.11–2.95). In conclusion, the risk of femicide, the frequency of IPV against women, and the rate of maternal depression are all high among pregnant women treated at San Jose de Chincha Hospital, since one in three pregnant women has maternal depression and one in five has been a victim of psychological violence or at risk of feminicide.

Evidence of Gender Asymmetry in Intimate Partner Violence Experience at the Population-Level.

Claims of "gender symmetry" in intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence are contested, with resolution of the issue complicated by methodological and measurement challenges. This study explores gendered differences in the distribution of IPV exposure at the population-level, considering multiple types of IPV exposure. The subjects comprised of 1,431 ever-partnered women and 1,355 ever-partnered men. Data from a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional survey were used to compare men and women's IPV experiences. Twenty-three IPV acts were assessed across IPV types (moderate physical, severe physical, sexual, psychological, controlling behaviors, economic). Proportions were presented by gender for the number of individual IPV acts experienced per IPV type, and the frequency of these acts (none, once, few times, or many times). A composite exposure score was developed to assess the number of acts and their frequency within types by comparing scores in tertiles and across types by correlations. Women reported greater overall prevalence of 20 of the 23 individual IPV acts assessed. Across all assessed acts, women comprised a substantially greater proportion of those who reported experiencing individual acts "many times." Women experienced more severe and more frequent IPV than men based on self-reported experience of IPV acts, and by the frequency with which acts were experienced. Significant differences between men and women's exposure scores were observed for all six assessed types, with greater proportions of women scoring in the upper tertiles. This study provides evidence of gender asymmetry in experiences of IPV at the population level. While men do experience IPV victimization, there remains need for directed and substantial resource allocation for intervention and therapeutic responses to women's exposure to IPV, and for primary prevention with men. Going forward, IPV measurement tools that consider frequency, severity, or co-occurring types of IPV are needed.

Cultural collectivism, intimate partner violence, and women's mental health: An analysis of data from 151 countries.

Culture, defined as the distinctive, learned beliefs and patterns of behavior that are particular to a given group or community, is a key determinant of mental health. The cultural dimension of individualism-collectivism, which measures the extent to which a given society accords importance to individuals as opposed to larger groups, has been associated with cross-national variations in mental health outcomes such as depression and suicide. However, this cultural dimension is also associated with variations in the frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV), which has a significant and sustained adverse impact on women's mental health. This study examines the relationships between individualism-collectivism, the frequency of IPV, and rates of depression and suicide in women, based on data from 151 countries. In this data set, IPV was significantly associated with age-standardized rates of depression and suicide in women, even after adjusting for demographic variables. Cultural collectivism was positively correlated with IPV, but this relationship was significantly influenced by national income and women's educational attainment. In multivariate analyses, IPV, but not cultural collectivism, remained significantly associated with depression in women. These results highlight the importance of screening for and addressing IPV in women seeking mental health care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where cultural and economic factors may both increase the risk of IPV and delay or impede its reporting.

Fathers’ experiences of intimate partner violence: Examining the perspectives of fathers in urban and rural locations

ABSTRACT This qualitative study examines experiences of unilateral and bidirectional violence in a sample of 17 fathers experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Most of the fathers experienced at least one other challenge including: mental health concerns, incarceration, substance use issues, and/or child maltreatment. Ten of the fathers in this sample reside in urban areas and seven reside in rural locales. The focus of this study was to understand fathers’ experiences of unidirectional and bidirectional IPV, as well as differences experienced by fathers in the rural and urban samples. This study is a secondary analysis of data from two qualitative studies in order to examine fathers’ experiences of IPV. Thematic analysis was utilized to examine verbatim transcripts from participant interviews. Four main themes emerged: bidirectional violence, use of weapons and pseudo weapons, motives for violence, and co-occurring factors. Results indicate the frequency and severity of bilateral IPV. The findings highlight the importance of understanding context and the need for a thorough assessment of individual and family challenges in order to provide effective treatment. This study increases our knowledge of IPV experienced by fathers in rural areas. Additionally, the importance of educating future clinicians on the prevalence of bidirectional IPV is discussed.

Violence in Quilombola women living in rural communities in Brazil.

To estimate the prevalence of psychological, physical, and sexual violence perpetrated against women by their intimate partner (IP) in Quilombola communities located in Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The data is from a population-based cross-sectional study of Quilombola women conducted from 2017 to 2018. In-person interviews collected information on women's sociodemographic characteristics, behaviors, and their experience of violence perpetrated by their IP. The analysis used chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression. 219 women (94.8% of the invited ones) agreed to participate in the study. 59.0% (95%CI: 5.25-65.5) reported psychological violence; 41% (95%CI: 34.5-47.5) physical violence; and 8.2% (95%CI: 4.6-11.8) sexual violence. Psychological violence was associated with having three or more sexual partners in life, when compared to those who had up to two partners (p = 0,009), and previous violence involving other people outside of family increased the chance of suffering psychological violence by an IP more than nine times (p ≤ 0.001). Regarding physical violence, the association with use of barrier contraception (p = 0.031) and having a partner with other sexual partners (p = 0.024) were protective factors for IP violence. Having 3 or more sexual partners in the last 12 months (p = 0.006), partner using illicit drugs (p = 0,006), and alcoholism in the family (p = 0,001), increased the chance of suffer physical violence by the partner. Sexual violence perpetrated by the IP was associated with miscarriage (p = 0.016), partner using drugs (p = 0.020), and gynecological symptoms (p = 0.045). These results showed the high frequency of intimate partner violence in Quilombola women and highlight the importance of reducing social and race inequities for interrupting the culture of violence against women.

Intimate Partner Violence-Related Emergency Department and Hospital Visits in California Following the ICD-10-CM Transition, 2016-2018.

With the transition to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), additional research is needed to understand which diagnostic codes for intimate partner violence (IPV) are being used. The current study examined characteristics of IPV visits and frequency of diagnostic codes to identify IPV in all emergency department (ED) and inpatient hospital visits for adults in California from 2016-2018, after ICD-10-CM implementation. Five ICD-10-CM codes outlined in the Uniform Data System Reporting Instructions were used to identify IPV. Fewer than 0.1% of visits (17,347 ED visits and 1,430 hospitalizations) included documentation of IPV. Visits with documented IPV were more common among patients who were younger, female, Black, primarily English-speaking, and publicly insured compared to visits with no documented IPV. There were fairly consistent patterns over time in the specific ICD-10-CM codes used for IPV between 2016 and 2018. Physical and sexual abuse were the most common codes for types of abuse. Among the 15 EDs and 15 hospitals in California with the highest volume of IPV visits, there was variability in the use of ICD-10-CM codes for IPV visits. Accurate documentation of IPV in administrative data may improve patient care and increase understanding of the burden and effects of IPV on individuals and communities.

Sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and increased frequency of intimate partner violence among LGBTQ people in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: A brief report

Sociodemographic characteristics and depressive symptoms were assessed for their association with increased frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in a US sample of (N = 1,090) LGBTQ people, using an anonymous online survey. Among those (n = 98) endorsing IPV victimization in their current relationship, more than 18% reported increased frequency since the onset of the pandemic. Respondents in the Southern US, and those with more severe depressive symptoms, were more likely to report an increased frequency of IPV victimization. Providers, researchers, and policymakers should address this prevalent health problem, particularly during public health emergencies.

1443P Intimate partner violence in cancer patients: An SOS call

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical problem worldwide. The subject remains a taboo especially in Arab countries were reported IPV prevalence ranged from 6% to 59%. Data about the combination of IPV and cancer is missing. The aim of the present study was to measure the frequency and types of IPV among patients with cancer and evaluate risk factors. The study was a cross sectional, questionnaire-based study, conducted between January and April 2022, including 141 patients treated with cancer regardless of gender, site, or stage. We developed the study questionnaire by adapting items from the “WHO multi-country questionnaire on violence against women” and “The Women’s Experiences with Battering Scale”. Odds ratio (OR) and Spearman tests were performed to assess the impact of several factors associated with the reported IPV. Median age was 50.8 yo, 38.3% were male cancer patients. Patient reported to have a highschool or university educational level (EL) in 76% and a stable job at the moment of the study in 49%. IPV prevalence was 24.8%, we observed 5 cases of torture (3%). The most common forms of violence were: placing severe restriction on certain types of food in 21% of cases, psychological violence (absence of kindness and critsism) in 20%, exposing intimate information about the patient health status in 17%, ignoring and not speaking to the patient in 13.5%, putting restrictions on visiting relatives in 9.2%, verbal assault in 9.2%, physical violence in 7.9%. There was no difference in the incidence of IPV neither in the forms of violence between man and women. The only difference of reported IPV forms between man and women was “divorce threats”, observed in 9% of women vs 0% in man (p=0.02). We observed a significant correlation between IPV prevalence and disease stage (34.6% M1 vs 19.1% M0, p=0,04, OR=2.2 [1-4.8]), patient’s EL (48.5% none-primary school vs 17.6%, p=0.01, OR= 4.4 [1.8-10.2]) and being under cancer therapy (30.9% vs 11.4%, p=0.013, OR=3.4 [1.2-9.7]). Patients were shown to be victims of several forms of IPV regardless of gender and highly correlated with a low educational level and disease stage. Implementation of both; intervention strategies to take care of victims and preventive strategies supporting patients and their partners is needed.

Intimate partner violence and child maltreatment in Scotland – Insights from nationally representative longitudinal survey data

BackgroundResearch on child maltreatment in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV) rarely draws on nationally representative samples, and rarely accounts for maternal, paternal and child reports of parental aggression towards children separately. ObjectiveWe explore if living with IPV makes children more likely to be smacked or slapped by their parents. Participants and settingA prospective longitudinal and nationally representative child cohort study for Scotland (starting sample N:5217). MethodsQuestions for children at ages 2–7 include: maternal and paternal reports of aggression towards children; children's reports of being ‘smacked’ by parents; maternal reports of IPV. Multivariate logit models explore how maternal IPV is associated with child maltreatment, controlling for socio-economic confounders. ResultsIn homes with a long-term abusive partner, children are more likely to have been smacked/slapped by the father (OR1.91, p ≤ 0.05), mother (OR1.84 p ≤ 0.05), and both parents (OR2.31, p ≤ 0.05). Maternal IPV frequency and intensity was incrementally associated with children's odds of being smacked/slapped (OR range 1.47–1.70, p ≤ 0.05). Ethnic minority boys were more likely (predicted probability of 42 % p ≤ 0.05) to have been smacked/slapped by their mother frequently compared to other children (predicted probability range: 19–27 %). ConclusionsWhen mothers report IPV, the extent and severity of the abuse is incrementally associated with children's experiences of parental aggression, and ethnic minority boys are far more at risk. Parental aggression should be understood within the context of the stresses associated with living with an abusive partner. We discuss the fragmented picture which surveys of children provide when interviewing mainly the mother.

Pregnancy complications and intimate partner violence: The moderating role of prenatal posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and posttraumatic stress disorder increase the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, but associations among IPV exposure, mental health, and pregnancy complications remain underexplored. This study assessed the interaction between three types of IPV exposure (i.e., physical, sexual, psychological) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) on prenatal complications (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes) among pregnant women exposed to IPV. Participants included 137 IPV-exposed pregnant women (Mage = 27.29, SD = 6.00; 66.9% African American/Black). Three regression models were run to test the main effect of each type of IPV and PTSS on pregnancy complications, and the moderating effect of PTSS on the association between IPV and pregnancy complications, controlling for socioeconomic status, gestational age, and childhood trauma. Main effects were observed for sexual coercion, β = .32, p = .010, R2 part = .050, and PTSS, β = 0.19, p = .039, R2 part = .026, with more frequent sexual IPV and higher levels of PTSS associated with more pregnancy complications. Moderating effects were also evident, with the IPV x PTSS interaction significant for all three IPV domains: psychological aggression, f2 = .046; sexual coercion, f2 = .079; and physical assault, f2 = .048. PTSS strengthened the positive association between psychological and sexual IPV and pregnancy complications. Physical IPV and pregnancy complications were inversely related for participants with low-level PTSS. Results provide novel information on how IPV types and PTSS function together during pregnancy. Findings highlight the need for evidence-based prenatal interventions that successfully address both IPV exposure and PTSS severity.

Hyper-Sensitivity to the Perpetrator and the Likelihood of Returning to Abusive Relationships.

Although most women who are subjected to intimate partner violence attempt to leave their abusive partners, many return, and resultantly are at risk for even greater violence. Research to date has documented relations between several factors (income and economic dependence, frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV), fear of violence escalations, history of childhood abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms) and women's returning to their abusive partners. Nevertheless, the contribution of women's emotional bonds with their violent partners, known as identification with the aggressor (IWA), in explaining their perceived likelihood of going back to the relationship, has remained unclear. The current study, conducted among 258 Israeli women who had left their violent partners, aimed to fill this void. An online survey was conducted. Demographic variables, history of childhood abuse, frequency of IPV, economic dependence on former partner, fear of future violence escalation, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, IWA, and perceived likelihood of returning to the relationship, were assessed via self-report questionnaire. Results indicated that two aspects of IWA-becoming hyper-sensitive to the perpetrator and adopting the perpetrator's experience-were related to women's perceived likelihood of returning to the relationship. Furthermore, a logistic regression analysis indicated that only two factors-income and becoming hyper-sensitive to the perpetrator-uniquely contributed to explaining the likelihood of returning to abusive partners. Major implications: The current findings suggest that women's tendency to be highly attuned to their partners' feelings and needs, as a part of IWA, may impede their ability to permanently leave abusive relationships.